Free Will or Determinism: Who Cares When You're Just a Puppet on a String Anyway?
Raul Villamarin Rodriguez
VP @ Woxsen University | Cognitive Technologist | Decoding the Mind Code: Building AI for Humans
As humans, we love to think that we have free will. We like to believe that we have the ability to make our own choices, to shape our own destiny. But let's be real: who cares about free will or determinism when you're just a puppet on a string anyway?
First of all, let's define our terms. Free will refers to the idea that we have the ability to make choices that are not predetermined by outside forces. Determinism, on the other hand, is the belief that everything that happens is caused by something that came before it, and that all events and choices are predetermined.
So which is it? Are we puppets, dancing to the tune of determinism, or do we have the freedom to make our own choices?
Well, according to some philosophers, we are indeed just puppets. Take determinists like John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes, for example. Calvin argued that everything, including our choices, is predetermined by God. Hobbes, on the other hand, believed that our choices are determined by natural laws and causes.
But what about those who argue for free will? Philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Immanuel Kant have championed the idea that we have the ability to make our own choices, to act freely and autonomously.
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So which is it? Determinism or free will? Who cares, really?
Sure, it might be comforting to believe that we have free will, that we have the ability to shape our own lives and make our own decisions. But let's be honest: we are all just pawns in the grand scheme of things. We may think we have control over our own lives, but in reality, we are all just puppets on a string, dancing to the tune of fate or circumstance or whatever you want to call it.
Even if we do have free will, what does it matter? We are all just tiny specks in the grand scheme of the universe, insignificant and inconsequential. Our choices and actions may seem big and important to us, but in the grand scheme of things, they are meaningless.
So let's not waste our time debating free will or determinism. Who cares whether we are controlled by outside forces or if we have the ability to make our own choices? In the end, it doesn't matter. We are all just puppets on a string, dancing to the tune of whatever force controls us.
The findings from our recent evaluation of the ODE workshops for young adults in Nepal provide an important counterpoint to the article's assertion that individuals are mere puppets controlled by outside forces. The evaluation results demonstrate that training individuals in decision-making skills can lead to long-term changes in their habits and behavior, as well as an increased sense of self-awareness and confidence. The high percentage of participants who continued to use the resources and tools provided during the workshop and who shared their knowledge with others highlights the potential for this type of training to have a positive ripple effect in communities. By empowering individuals to make informed decisions and encouraging them to share their knowledge and expertise, decision-making workshops can contribute to a more participatory and democratic decision-making culture. Therefore, the findings from the ODE workshops suggest that individuals are not mere puppets controlled by outside forces, but rather agents capable of shaping their own lives and communities through informed decision-making.
Director, IAS Academy, Thought Leader, Institution Builder, CAT verbal product Head, Legal English Expert, GRE/ IELTS /TOEFL/SAT Senior Faculty, Author, E learning professional, Director IAS Academy
1 年I am suddenly reminded of John Milton: 'Within him lies the danger And yet lies within his power Against his will he receives no harm But God left the will free' Even, the celebrated English writer,. Christopher Marlowe took this concept of free will in his Magnum opus, Doctor Faustus. The protagonist sells his soul to the Devil in this play. The question is are we able to really enjoy this free will? Is it possible to control this will and again attain bliss? How far training, formal or informal, supports in this task?
DeepTec Investor??Montessorian
1 年Insightful article, thanks for sharing Raul Villamarin Rodriguez, Ph.D. ??♂???
CEO and CSO - I help Startups, and CEOs and CXOs of all sizes. Especially women-led startups. As an investor. As an advisor. Helper, thinker, speaker, writer, educator, singer, oil painter (with a small p).
1 年Bah! Humbug! I think you deliberately chose Calvin and Hobbes as they are cartoon characters. I am may be but a tiny ant roving the plains of Flatland looking up at the endless universe. But I know other ants - soldier ants, red ants, and worker ants, and others in my own hive. I connect with other ants from other hives. And connect with more everyday. Together we will move mountains. With my will, and our collective will - no one, and no entity, or external force - will stand in our way. even from 3D and 4D lands. We will even topple the elephants who stamp out 1000s of us on the way every day. ”Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal is reached!” Vivekananda. Just my 2 cents! :)
Professor of Management and Business Studies
1 年Profound wisdom indeed! My thoughts: no right or wrong answer, however many opinions and points of view. Some debates are meaningless and will not achieve anything positive. It is critical to always be involved in work that will make a positive difference to humanity and the earth, in whatever small way. Uplifting, purpose filled decisions are what matters! On the matter of forces, now that can become a value adding, awareness creating discussion.....my life experience, learnings and education have prepared me to invest in Possibility!